Unit 1: La época medieval

Unit Overview

The medieval period in Spain spans from the 5th to the 15th century. This era is characterized by feudalism, the influence of the Catholic Church, and events such as the Crusades and the Reconquista, which shaped society and culture. Spanish medieval literature reflects these historical changes. Works such as El Cantar de Mio Cid and El Libro de Buen Amor explore themes like honor, religion, and courtly love, using techniques like cuaderna vía and the mester de clerecía.

Required Works in Unit 1

1.1 Conde Lucanor, Exemplo XXXV – Don Juan Manuel

Conde Lucanor is a didactic literary work written by Don Juan Manuel in the 14th century. It consists of a series of short stories or "examples" meant to teach moral lessons. In Exemplo XXXV, the story features a young man who is advised by his wise uncle, the Conde Lucanor, about how to deal with difficult situations. The tale revolves around a man who, faced with an important task, overcomes adversity by acting decisively and without hesitation. The story emphasizes the values of prudence, wisdom, and the consequences of inaction.

Key Notes for AP Exams:

• Theme: Morality, decision-making, and the consequences of one's actions.

• Narrative Structure: A frame narrative, with the main story followed by a moral or lesson.

• Tone and Style: Simple and didactic, using a combination of prose and fables to convey messages.

• Cultural Context: Written during the Middle Ages, reflecting feudal society's emphasis on authority, wisdom, and virtue.

• Language: The work showcases medieval Spanish, offering insight into the evolution of the language.

• Key Literary Techniques: Moralistic tone, fable-like structure, and use of allegory to teach life lessons.

1.2 “Romance de la pérdida de Alhama” – Anónimo

This anonymous romance recounts the fall of the city of Alhama in 1482 during the Spanish Reconquista. It is a ballad that reflects on the tragic loss of the city, emphasizing the emotional and historical significance of the event. The poem is a dramatic narrative, featuring a king who is informed of the city's capture, which leads to the expression of regret and mourning. The romance explores themes of loss, fate, and the unpredictability of war, using vivid imagery and repetition for emphasis.

Key Notes for AP Exams:

• Theme: Loss, fate, and the impact of historical events on personal and collective identities.

• Narrative Structure: The romance form typically features short stanzas with a refrain or repetition, which is evident here in the king's reaction.

• Tone and Style: The tone is mournful, reflecting the historical tragedy. The style is simple but dramatic, using repetition for emotional effect.

• Cultural Context: Written during the late Middle Ages, just before the end of the Reconquista and the start of the Spanish Empire.

• Language: Early Spanish with archaic elements, reflective of the romance genre's tradition.

• Key Literary Techniques: Repetition (to heighten emotional impact), dialogue, and vivid imagery.

Historical Context

• The medieval period spans from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the 15th century.

• Characterized by feudalism, a socio-economic system based on land ownership and vassal relationships.

• Feudal lords provided protection and land in exchange for services and loyalty from vassals.

• The Catholic Church had a major influence on society, politics, and culture during this time.

• The clergy was the most educated and powerful social class.

• Religion permeated all aspects of daily life.

• The Crusades (11th-13th centuries) had a significant impact on society and literature, encouraging cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East.

• The Spanish Reconquista (711-1492) was a gradual process of reclaiming territories occupied by Muslims, influencing the formation of Spanish national identity and fostering coexistence and cultural exchange among Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

• The rise of universities in the 12th century contributed to intellectual and cultural development, promoting theology, philosophy, and liberal arts, and facilitating the spread of knowledge and exchange of ideas.

Key Literary Works

• El Cantar de Mio Cid (circa 1200) is the first preserved epic poem in Spanish, telling the story of the Castilian hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid. It reflects the values and customs of feudal Spanish society.

• El Libro de Buen Amor (1330-1343) by Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita, combines didactic, satirical, and lyrical elements, exploring love, morality, and religion with humor and irony.

• Las Coplas por la muerte de su padre (1476) by Jorge Manrique is a notable example of medieval elegiac poetry, reflecting on life's transience and the inevitability of death.

• La Celestina (1499) by Fernando de Rojas is an innovative work marking the transition from medieval to Renaissance theater, offering a realistic portrayal of society and human relationships, with themes of love, passion, greed, and hypocrisy.

• The Romancero Viejo is a collection of anonymous ballads transmitted orally, telling stories of heroes, legends, and historical events, reflecting the popular tradition and collective identity of medieval Spanish society.

Other Major Authors

• Gonzalo de Berceo (circa 1198-1264) was the first known Spanish poet by name, writing religious works like Los Milagros de Nuestra Señora and Vida de Santo Domingo de Silos.

• Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita (circa 1283-1350) wrote El Libro de Buen Amor, blending high and popular traditions and using a variety of metric forms and stylistic devices.

• Don Juan Manuel (1282-1348) wrote didactic works like El Conde Lucanor, reflecting aristocratic values and feudal society.

• Jorge Manrique (circa 1440-1479) authored Las Coplas por la muerte de su padre, using stylistic devices like anaphora and metaphor to convey a moral message.

• Fernando de Rojas (circa 1465-1541) wrote La Celestina, marking the transition to a more realistic and complex literature.

Themes and Motifs

• Honor and loyalty are recurring themes in medieval Spanish literature, with characters striving to maintain their honor and fulfill feudal duties.

• Courtly love is a common motif in medieval lyrical poetry, idealizing a platonic relationship between a knight and a noble lady.

• Religion is deeply embedded in much of the literature, reflecting the influence of the Catholic Church in society.

• The transience of life and inevitability of death are often explored, emphasizing the brevity of human existence and the vanity of earthly possessions.

• Social critique and satire appear in some works, with authors using humor and irony to challenge societal and religious conventions.

Literary Techniques

• Cuaderna vía is a stanza form of four Alexandrine verses with consonant rhyme (AAAA), used by authors like Gonzalo de Berceo and Juan Ruiz.

• Mester de clerecía is a literary technique cultivated by learned clergy, characterized by the use of cuaderna vía and a refined, didactic language.

• Mester de juglaría is a technique used by minstrels, with irregular verses and simple, direct language aimed at entertainment and the spread of stories.

• Allegory is a literary device using symbolic elements to represent abstract ideas, often employed in works like El Libro de Buen Amor and Los Milagros de Nuestra Señora.

• Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive verses or sentences, used to emphasize key ideas and create rhythmic and emotional effects, as seen in Las Coplas por la muerte de su padre.

Cultural Influences

• Oral tradition played a crucial role in the transmission of medieval Spanish literature, with minstrels reciting and singing works in public squares and noble courts.

• Arabic and Hebrew influences are present in Spanish medieval literature due to cultural exchanges among Christians, Muslims, and Jews, with some works incorporating thematic and stylistic elements from these traditions.

• Courtly love, originating in Provençal tradition, influenced Spanish lyrical poetry, reflected in works like cantigas de amor and romances.

• European literature, particularly French, had an impact on Spanish medieval literature, with French epic poems like the Chanson de Roland inspiring similar works in Spain, and Arthurian romances being adapted by Spanish authors.

• Scholastic philosophy and Christian theology influenced medieval Spanish literature, with debates on theological issues and Aristotelian ideas appearing in didactic works.

Language Evolution

• Medieval Spanish, also known as Old Spanish, evolved from Vulgar Latin and was different from the Classical Latin used by the Church and scholars.

• Old Spanish had regional and dialectical variations, with Castilian emerging as the dominant language of Spanish medieval literature.

• Other Romance languages, like Galician-Portuguese and Catalan, also had significant literary productions.

• Old Spanish featured archaic forms and linguistic variations, such as the use of "ge" instead of "se" and "-ades" instead of "-áis" for the second person plural.

• Arabic influence enriched the vocabulary of Old Spanish, particularly in areas like agriculture, science, and architecture.

• Medieval literature contributed to the standardization of written Spanish, helping to establish orthographic and grammatical norms.

Legacy and Impact

• Spanish medieval literature laid the foundation for the development of Renaissance and Golden Age literature, inspiring authors like Garcilaso de la Vega and Lope de Vega.

• La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas marked a transition to more realistic and complex literature.

• Themes and motifs from medieval literature have endured in Spanish popular culture, with works like El Cantar de Mio Cid and romances being adapted in various artistic forms.

• The figure of El Cid has become a national icon and symbol of Spanish identity.

• Spanish medieval literature has been studied and analyzed by philologists and literary critics, contributing to understanding the language, society, and mindset of the era.

• Medieval works have been translated and disseminated internationally, fostering intercultural dialogue and comparative studies of European literatures.

• Spanish medieval literature remains a key part of Spain's cultural heritage and national identity, continuing to inspire contemporary writers, artists, and intellectuals.